Local hunters have invaded hideouts of kidnappers in Taraba, killing several and arresting a good number of others during the combing of forests and mountains in the state.

Though the casualty figure remains hazy as at press time, a hunter said “as I am talking with you now, more than 200 of us are in the forests and some on the mountains battling the kidnappers and I can confidently tell you that we are succeeding in the battle. “

Areas that had been successfully rid of abductions include Mallam Ali in Ardo-Lola Local Council.

The hunters, who said they have mapped out plans to comb the entire hideouts of the kidnappers, stated: “It is not good for us to reveal our strategies to you, as we have unanimously agreed to flush out these undesirable elements from this state. “

Beside the deaths, the exercise, which began last Monday, was also said to have also led to the arrest of many kidnappers.

The hunters, who said the ongoing operation was being carried out without any assistance from security agencies, revealed that some prominent citizens had been indicted by the captured abductors.

Disturbed by the traumatising activities of the kidnappers, Taraba Government, as learned, was said to have engaged the hunters to join forces with security agents to rid the state of hoodlums.

Some residents of the areas where the hunters are currently operating confirmed to have been hearing gunshots, adding that their awareness of the raid had made them unperturbed.

However, the police command, which claimed ignorance of the expedition, assured the residents that it was leaving no stone unturned in checking banditry in the state.

Governor Darius Ishaku, who confirmed the engagement of the hunters while hosting federal and state security administrators, admitted that the rising security challenges nationwide had been of major concern to all.

Besides, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje yesterday said kidnappers would henceforth face the death penalty in Kano State.

Making the declaration at Government House while inaugurating a panel of inquiry on the recent abduction of nine children in the metropolis that were eventually rescued in Onitsha, Anambra State, stated that Ministry of Justice had been directed to review the state penal code to accommodate the sentence.

Also yesterday, students of Government College, Jos, staged a peaceful protest against what they termed “lack of security and fence in the college.”

They barricaded the loose main gate to the institution, thereby preventing people from coming in and going out of the institution.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Head Boy, Pololis Danladi, claimed that they were being attacked regularly in the compound due to the “porous” gate.

The Guardian